Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-02-03
Not So Bad a Dog.

Several years ago an Express agent,
living in Pillssbury, was awakened by
his wife, who for some hours had been
unable to sleep because of the piteous
cries and means of Molly, black and
tan terrier puppy, which had been
dropped" into the Shelleys' yard after
dark by neighbor lad, who, to save
her from being drowned, as his father
had ordered, hoped to find for her in
this way a home.
':Do get up, James. It's past mid
night. and I've not been able to sleep
wink. Perhaps it's baby out in the
sleet and snow" urged Mrs. Shelley, as
the means grew fainter.
Mr.. Shelly did get up, lighted Ian
tern, and going out the back door, eau.
tiously looked about, holding the light
close to the sleet and snow-covered
ground, and finding under his bedroom
window Molly, almost frozen. He car
ried into the house the "puir beastie."
warmed and fed her, then wrapped her
in flannel In two days she had entire
ly recovered, minus the tip of her tail
which the cold had nipped until ampu-
tation was necessary, and endeavored
in puppyish way to express her graft
tude toward her new master.
Annoyed by Molly's habit of carrying
offsmall articles, Mrs. Shelley wished to
send her away.
ard like to keep her, wife," pleaded
Mr.. Shelley. "She is a bright little
dog and perhaps she will outgrow her
mischief soon."
When Molly had grown older and
more sedatc she became Mr.. Shelley's
shadow, following HIM everywhere and
guarding his property with Jealous care.
Late one Saturday evening she went
with her master TO the grocer's, which
was crowded with men who had just
drawn their weeks wages. Some of
them had been drinking heavily, and
one noted tor his brutality when under
the influence of liquor, slyly appropri-
ated cleaver that lay upon the meat
block, then going close to Mr.. Shelley
raised his arm to strike the unsuspect-
ing man in the back, unseen by any eve
except the watchful ones of Molly. In
an instant her sharp little teeth were
set in his ankle, causing him to roar
with pain, and the bystanders to see
the intent of the brutal fellow, whom
they soon had in safe keeping. Molly
Immediately became heroine, but no
amount of coaxing could vile her, even
for q few moments, from her master s
side.
Mr.. Shelley was often obliged to keep
in his house large sums of money be-
longing to the express company. as
there was no bank in the village. His
wife constantly feared visit from burg
lars, and to satisfy her Mr.. Shelley kept
close in the house after dark. Molly's
bed of straw lay in the side yard, di-
rectly under the window in her master S
bedroom. She would lie in no other
| spot.
After the peach harvest many valua,
BILE money packages were received, and
often were uncalled for by their own
ers for days after their arrival. The
last week in August the Shelley's were
guardians of several thousand dollars,
and Mrs, Shelley's nervousness increas.
ed until restful sleep was impossible.
Molly was unusually watchful, which
added to her annoyance.
James," said the heavy-eyed wife
after sleepless night, II can no long
er endure Molly's incessant barking
and swapping. Could it be that prowl
ers were around last night?"
II think it is likely that Molly wa
barking at the moon, or prowling cat,
replied Mr.. Shelley, lightly.
The next night Molly provoked ever
good tempered Mr.. Shelley, who, I'm
able to sleep, went repeatedly to tn
window, bidding her "keep STILL"
On the morning after, Mr.. Shelly had n
kind greeting for Molly. "For shame
Molly. You're naughty dog" sal,
Mrs. Shelley, showing her displeasur
by soundly cutting Molly's ears. Wit
dropping head and tail Molly left tn
kitchen, and creeping into the darkes
corner in the wood house. she remain
, ed there several hours, refusing to com
, to dinner when called.
, where's Molly" inquired Mr.. Shel
n ley, at tea time. "She must have
saucer of real cream for her supper.
seems, wife, that we owe it to OF
little dog that our house wasn't raj
). sacked by thieves last night. Tire
! well-known men have been committin
A series of thefts, and have escaped d,
. lection until to-day, when the goot
! taken from the post Office and Brown
store last night were found in the
20 house and identified. The three brotl
l. crs live together, and are a set of de
r peradoes who have tbeen planning
IS get possession of the express none
l. The eldest one and the leader confesst
r 10 every tnlng, anu stated III MS co.
= fession that Molly's vigilance had mol
% than once foiled them in their efforts
RI get near our house; that she refused
ge be tempted into tasting the poisont
q BITS of meat they threw in the yard, a,
they dared not risk shooting he
Drat that cur the villain said, scow
ing at me as | sat in the court roo
u hearing the evidence, if it hadn't be,
lg for that Molly dog, we'd had til
It's five thousand dollars fast enoughr :"
'.Molly! Molly!' called Mrs. Sh,
,st ley. and the little dog, recognizing
n. different tone in the voice Of her m
- tress, came bounding into the house.
W most frenzied in her gladness to be ia
lie en- back into favor. She received [
be double amount of petting bestowed !
rs on her by her two grateful owners, w
al glad and expressive banks, her brig
i. eyes shining with almost human inte
gence.
Molly lived fourteen years, faith
four-footed friend to the end of
as ays.-Lesoiston (he.) Journal